The Circassian
Supreme Court of the United States
The steamship Circassian, a merchant steamer under British colors, was captured with a valuable cargo by the United States steamer Somerset, for an attempted violation of the blockade established in pursuance of the proclamation of the President, dated 19th of April,. 1861. Both vessel and cargo were condemned as lawful prize by the District Court' for the Southern District of Florida; and the master, as representative of both, now brought the decree under the review of this…
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The steamship Circassian, a merchant steamer under British colors, was captured with a valuable cargo by the United States steamer Somerset, for an attempted violation of the blockade established in pursuance of the proclamation of the President, dated 19th of April,. 1861. Both vessel and cargo were condemned as lawful prize by the District Court' for the Southern District of Florida; and the master, as representative of both, now brought the decree under the review of this court by appeal. The capture was made on the áth of May, 1862, — the date is important, — seven or eight miles off the…
1Opinion of the Court
The CHIEF JUSTICE
delivered the. opinion of the court.
That the rebellion against the national Government, which, in April, 1861, took the form of assault on Fort Sumter, had, before the end of July, assumed the character and proportions of civil war; and that the blockade, established under the President’s proclamation, affected all neutral commerce, from that time, at least, with- its obligations and liabilities, are propositions which, in this court, are no longer open to question. They were not more explicitly affirmed by the judges who concurred in the judgment pronounced in the prize…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Yeaton v. FrySupreme Court of the United States · 1809
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